一致して賛美する

６月１８～２０日まで金沢でミニストリーをする機会が与えられました。
数名の牧師と個人的にお話した時に、ここには多くの必要があり、目に見えない壁と戦っている様子が伺えました。

実は、同じ月に海外からの招きも受けましたが、聖霊なる主は、僕を金沢に導いてくださったのです。

土曜日には石川クリスチャンネットワーク主催の集会が行われました。
これは市内の教会が協力し、主を賛美し、福音を伝えるための働きです。
集会自体は、目新しいことや画期的なことには見えませんでした。
しかし、祈りから始まり、グスペルクワイヤー、賛美、証しと続く中で、主の麗しい臨在を感じたのです。
ここで素晴らしいことが起きようとしている期待が湧いてきました。

日曜の礼拝後には、他で礼拝していた方々も、金曜と土曜に体験したことの証しに訪れてくれました。

今回、参加者の多さでも、会場の規模でも、ゲストがどれ程有名かでもなく、一致して主を求め、賛美する民に主の臨在が現わされるということを体験できたのです。
教会はキリストのからだです。
ひとつ心となり、主の愛という帯で結ばれ、もっと主を賛美したい。
金沢での三日間は、このような飢え渇きを与えてくれたのです。

歴代誌　第二　５章１３節

Father's Day

Yesterday was Father’s Day. A bottle of energy drink was given to fathers at Kanazawa Bible Church where I visited to preach the gospel.

This photo is a present that I gave to my parents for father’s and mother’s day.

It's a miracle to have a peaceful event like this happened to my family. When I believed Jesus Christ and received new life, my heart was filled with the true love toward my parents. I hope God’s miracle happens to many families in Japan.

Exodus 20:12

Scent of Christian

Sometimes I introduced some surveys in this blog but I am surprised that there are many surveys in this world. Some company had a questionnaire to workers at hotels around the world and released popularity ratings for tourists. Japanese tourists were chosen as the best tourist for 3 years since this survey had started. I myself use a hotel but I’ve never thought that we, tourists, can make a positive image after check-out. This is a surprising survey but I’m so glad to hear it as Japanese that we are valued highly.

What can we, Christians, leave behind after we leave the place? After Jesus walked, a good scent supposed to remain there. It is the scent of a very expensive nard oil which was on Christ’s legs. If we can hear after the person left, "that smells Christ’s scent", it’s a wonderful thing.

Lord, give your scent to all the Christians in Japan.

2 Corinthians 2:15

A testimony at FGB

This photo is Mr. Komol Antakon who is a president of FGB (Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship) Thailand and Mr. Tsukamoto who is a president of FGB Japan and translated Mr. Komol’s message.

Right now, Mr. and Mrs. Komol live in Thailand and their 3 sons live in New York and Sydney. This trip was a memorable trip for The Komols. Each family member shared a wonderful testimony. Mrs. Komol shared how they could depart from Thailand and arrive in Japan in the unrest between Thailand government army and antigovernment demonstration group and how she guided Mr. Komol to Jesus. Mr. Komol shared how to show God’s glory in business.

Japanese society is a workplace supremacist just like a religion. Although they come home late for overwork, they say we have to work so it can’t help. Although other people ask them to go to church on Sunday, they say because I’m fatigued from work, I can’t go. Although they received an appointment letter of transfer not accompanied by family, they say because this is my job, it can’t help. Everything makes do with work.

God tries to transform workplaces in Japan and believers will receive God’s big blessings in their workplace.

Psalm 1:1~3

平和な国

エコノミスト・インテリジェンス・ユニットという調査機関が１４４カ国を対象にした、平和な国のランキングがあります。
１位ニュージーランド、２位デンマーク、３位ノルウェーと順当な結果と納得しました。
そして、日本も８番目に平和という高い評価でした。
２３の項目によって調査されますが、ことワーストとなると判断が困難であると言えるでしょう。
なぜなら、国によっては、殺人やテロの定義、人権の概念が異なるからです。

インドを何回も訪れて感じることは、生と死が背中合わせであることです。
迫害されるキリスト者、ヒンドゥー教とイスラムの衝突、毛沢東派の無差別殺人、目の前で人が死ぬ瞬間に遭遇したこともありますし、警察官がテロリストに銃撃された場面のニアミスもありました。

また、多数の感電死者や、呪術師から毒薬を飲まされ死亡した人等、日本では考えられないケースも多くあり、全体の何分の一が報告されているのか大きな疑問です。
実際に、被差別民が殺された時に、殺人として扱われないケースも知りました。

聖書では、究極の平和は、キリストが王となる神の国によってもたれされることが書かれています。
それでは、現代の社会で平和を生み出すことは不可能なのでしょうか？

いいえ、この時代に生きる神の子たちにもできることがあります。
神の国は、まず、信じる者の内から始まるのです。

主よ、どうか私たちを、平和をつくる者へと変え続けて下さい。

マタイの福音書　５章９節

One not two "Part 2"

We celebrated the 14th wedding anniversary on 8th of this month.

Whey my wife was single, she saved money every month and traveled abroad once a year. She didn’t say anything about it, when we got married but she was prepared for not traveling abroad again and buying her own clothes.

We grew up in a different environment. Her father was a government officer so her life was stable and down-to-earth. Not only that, her family had breakfast at 6 o’clock in the morning and a dinner at 5:30 p.m. together every day.
On the other hand, both of my parents worked and we had only 2 meals a day. We were typical night people.

After my wife and I got married, it was tough for me to adjust to her life style at first, but thanks to her I became a morning person.

Right now, we have chances to travel abroad and domestic. We haven’t imagined that it could happen in our life. She is working for a living even now and the precious offering is used for our ministry. We share marvelous thanksgiving, joy, and small pain at the same time.

Almighty God is telling us why He created people, to a man and a woman through our life.

Genesis 2:18

Faith with action

This photo is Mr. Okuyama, Minoru who is a director of Missionary Training Center. He is 78 years old but he travels around the world even now.

In March of 2010, there was the 100th Edinburgh World Missionary Conference in Tokyo. The director, Mr. Okuyama, was a chairman of this conference. He came to Sapporo 1 week before this World conference. I didn’t attend this conference, but I saw how difficult the preparation and how big the responsibility he has.

Dr. Winter, Ralph who was drawn up to heaven last year said at a meeting in a different country, “The Lord is leading the conference to Japan.” Mr. Okuyama who attended the meeting said right away, “Yes. We take it.”

Usually, Japanese people bring the idea to Japan, open a board meeting, discuss a budget or a place, and then response.

The other day, a prime minister of this country had a talk of resignation. What in the world was a manifest he had told before an election? The true intention is still unanswered whether he wanted votes or he couldn’t understand the reality, although he had a vision. Word and manifest sounded nicely so some people put high hopes to the political party, but you know the result of it.

There are arguments for and against Mr. Okuyama’s decision but he acted and fulfilled the conference. When he was young, he went into a jungle in Indonesia and shared the gospel to many people there.

Today, churches in Japan need most is not a higher criticism, a manual for church growing, or a well-resourced facility. The faith with action is the key, it is the word of God

James 1:22

父の日

昨日は、父の日でした。
ちなみに、メッセージの奉仕で訪れていた金沢聖書教会では、お父さんたちに栄養ドリンクがプレゼントされました。

写真は、家庭での父の日と母の日に贈ったプレゼントです。
我が家に、このようなほほえましい光景が実現すること自体が奇跡です。

イエスキリストを信じ、新しいいのちを頂いた時に、両親に対する本当の愛が湧いてきました。
日本中の多くの家族に、神様の奇跡が起こることを願います。

出エジプト記　２０章１２節

キリスト者の香り

このブログでも度々紹介していますが、世界には様々な調査があることに驚かされます。
世界のホテル関係者に調査した、好感を抱く旅行客ランキングがあります。
調査が始まり、何と、３年連続で世界一に日本人が選ばれています。

自分自身もホテルを利用しますが、チェック・アウトした後にも、好印象を残せるとは考えたこともありませんでした。
意外な調査ですが、日本人として、高く評価されるのは嬉しいものです。
このような観光客やビジネスマンに対し、キリスト者は、その場を去った後に何を残すことができるのでしょうか？

イエス様が歩いた後に、とても良い香りが残ったはずです。
それは、イエス様の足をぬぐった、とても高価なナルドの香油の香りです。
「あの人が去った後は、キリストの香りがするね」このような言葉が聞けたなら、本当に素晴らしいことです。

主よ、日本中のすべてのキリスト者にあなたの香りを

コリント人への手紙第二　２章１５節

ＦＧＢでの証

写真は、ＦＧＢ（フルゴスペル・ビジネスマン・フェローシップ）タイ会長のコモ・アンタコンさんと、通訳をするＦＧＢ日本会長の塚本さんです。

現在、コモさんご夫婦はタイ在住で、３人の息子さんはニューヨークとシドニーに住んでいます。
この日は、コモさんの家族５人にとって記念すべき旅行でした。
家族それぞれが素晴らしい証を分かち合ってくれました。
ご婦人は、タイ政府軍と反政府デモ隊の騒乱の中で来日できた経緯と、どのように夫であるコモさんをイエス様に導いたのかを語ってくれました。
タイＦＧＢ会長のコモさんは、ビジネスの場で、神の栄光を現わすことを熱く語りました。

日本の社会は、まるで宗教のような職場至上主義です。
残業で帰りが遅くとも「仕事だから」、日曜日に礼拝に誘っても「仕事で疲れているから」、単身赴任の辞令が出ても「仕事だからしょうがない」、全ては仕事で済まされます。

神様は、日本の職場に大きな変革を起こそうとされています。
そして、信じる者の仕事は主によって大きな祝福を受けるでしょう。

詩篇　１篇１～３節

Voice of a shepherd

When I was a child, my family had a dog. We usually had a mixed-breed dog outside of our house but one time we had a pedigree Yorkshire terrier inside of our house. His name was Mimi. There was a parking lot in front of our house and our neighbors parked their car there but whenever my mother parked her car there, Mimi went to the entrance wagging his tail. This dog was so small that he couldn’t see outside from a window but he knew the sound of my mother’s car. Why can he recognize the sound of my mother’s car and other people’s car? Giving him food and taking care of him was my mother’s chores. I’m sure he became attached to my mother the most. Probably he was looking forward for her return and thinking, “Is she coming home soon? What is my dinner tonight? I want to lick her face and hug her.” all the time.

People are better than dog. We are the best creation of God, the Creator. Jesus said my sheep recognizes my voice. If We Christians focus our thoughts on Jesus in our daily life, we can recognize the voice of the Lord clearly. Although we hear attractive things in this world, don't be deceived by the voice that is similar but not the voice of the Lord. The voice of the Lord is filled with warm love, righteousness, and majesty.

John 1:1~16

Rehabilitation or new life?

When I was a child, I was a TV child. When a criminal surrendered or leaves a prison in a detective story, a detective says, “Retrieve yourself and go through mainstream life.”

I heard an astonishing testimony of a man in India. This man killed many people in the past. He proclaimed he was racked with a sense of guilt at first but he couldn’t stop killing people so he was scared of himself. He was arrested after he killed 15 people and he thought he would be subject to capital punishment. He believed Jesus and became a Christian. He himself didn’t and doesn’t know what happened but surprisingly he was set free 5 years later. Right now this man dedicated his life to God and became a teary evangelist who shares sins and God’s forgiveness.

Sadly to say, recidivism rate is high in this world. There are some elements but if we don’t remove a root, it’s impossible for us to retrieve truly. The root is a character of “sin” which we have been taking over since Adam. The righteousness shows sin but people need God’s love to repent .

When people accepted the Lord and that Jesus, died on the cross for their sins, they experience great God’s love. When they repent and believe in Jesus, they experience to be born again. The Bible tells people who are born again can go through retrieved life by the power or the Holy Spirit although they are sinners.

1 Peter 1:3

二人ではなく一体２

今月８日に、１４回目になる結婚記念日を迎えました。

妻は、独身時代、こつこつと貯金をして年に一回、海外旅行をしていました。
結婚する時には、口には出さなかったのですが、もう二度と海外に行けないこと、自分の服をもう買えないことを覚悟していたようです。

二人は、育った環境も大きく異なりました。
彼女の父親は国家公務員で、堅実と安定という表現がよく似合います。
それだけではなく、朝は６時台に朝食をとり、夕食も家族そろってとる家庭でした。

一方で、こちらは共働き、一日二食、典型的な夜型の家庭だったのです。
最初は大変でしたが、妻のおかげで朝型の一日を迎える習慣が身につきました。

今では、海外・国内・道内とミニストリーで出掛ける機会が多くあります。
僕たちの人生にこんなことが起こるとは、想像もできませんでした。

妻は、今でも生活のために働き、尊い捧げものはミニストリーに使用します。
今の二人は、驚くべき感謝と喜びと同時に、小さな痛みを共有しています。

全能なる神様が、なぜ、人を男女に創造したのかを人生を通して教えられています。

創世記２章１８節

行いの伴う信仰

写真の奥山実師（宣教師訓練センター所長）は７８歳ですが、今でも国内外を飛び回っています。

今年の３月に、エジンバラ１００周年記念世界宣教東京大会がありました。
奥山所長は、この大会の会長でした。
このような国際的な大会の前週に、彼は札幌に来ていたのです。
僕はこの大会には参加しませんでしたが、その準備がどれ程大変なのか、どれ程大きな責任を抱えていたのかは、間近で見ていました。

記念すべき１００周年の大会が日本で開催された経緯ですが、昨年、天に召されたラルフウィンター師の口から「主は日本に導かれている」という言葉がありました。
その会議に出席していた奥山所長は、その場で「はい、引き受けます」と答えたそうです。
通常、日本人は自国に持ち帰り、役員会議を開き、予算やら会場やら議論を尽くしてから返答するものです。

つい先日、この国の首相が辞任の会見を行いました。
選挙前に語っていたマニュフェストとは一体何だったのでしょう？
ただ票がほしいからなのか、それとも、理想は描いていたが現実には理解していなかったのか、真意はうやむやなままです。
言葉や公約は立派に聞こえ、ある人々は期待を寄せたことでしょう。
しかし、結果はみなさんがご承知のとおりです。

奥山所長の進め方に、賛否両論があるでしょうが、彼は行動し実現しました。
また、所長がまだ若い頃、インドネシアのジャングルに入っていき、実際に多くの人に福音を伝えました。

今日、日本の教会に最も必要なのは、高等批評や教会成長マニュアルでも、整った設備を要する施設でもありません。
このような行いの伴う信仰こそが、神に用いられる秘訣であると信じています。

ヤコブの手紙　１章２２節

羊飼いの声

まだ幼いころのことですが、犬を飼っていました。
いつもは雑種を外で飼っていたのですが、一度だけ、血統書付きのヨークシャテリアを育てたことがあります。
名前はミミと呼びました。

当時住んでいた家は、目の前が共同駐車場なので、近所の人も車を止めていました。
ところが、ミミは母親の車が駐車場に着くと、尻尾を振って玄関に行きます。
この犬は小さかったので、窓から外を見ることができないのですが、数ある車が出入りするなかで、母親の帰宅が分かるのです。
なぜ、ミミは母と他の車を識別できるのでしょう。

我が家では、犬に食事を与え、世話をするのは、母の役目でした。
間違いなく母親に一番なついていました。
おそらく、いつも母親の帰りを楽しみにし、「早く帰らないかなあ。今日はどんなご飯なんだろう。いっぱい顔をなめて甘えたい。」と考えていたことでしょう。

人は、犬よりも優れた存在です。
創造主なる神の造った被造物で最高傑作です。
イエス様は、わたしの羊はわたしの声を聞き分けると言われました。
クリスチャンが毎日の生活のなかで、絶えずイエス様を想い、意識しているなら、主の御声をはっきりと識別できるようになります。
どんなに魅力的なものが聞こえてくる現代社会であっても、決して、似て非なる声に惑わされることはありません。

主の御声は、誰よりも温かく愛に満ち、何よりも正義と威厳に満ちた声なのです。

ヨハネの福音書１０章１～１６節

The reason why Mr. Hillman is strong

The person whom baseball fans in Japan and Nippon Ham Fighters can’t forget is the former manager, Mr. Hillman. I heard the news that he was dismissed as a manager of Major League Baseball in U.S.A. on 14th of May. He had an interview and said, “I’m very thankful, that I had an opportunity to lead a team as a manager of Major League. It was a challenge for me that I could achieve my goal.”

When people have to step-down from a long-cherished position or fired, they are usually shocked, but his thankfulness to God and his refreshed attitude is contagious to everyone throughout his word. The key to understand his faith is written in a book, “Turning Point”, (published by New Life Ministry). His dream to become a Major Leaguer ended up in smoke and met with a setback. When he was 25 years old, he prayed to God. “I want to serve You through baseball. I will be Your faithful army. I’ll never betray You.” He came to a strange country, Japan, managed a fringe baseball team, Nippon Ham Fighters, to the league title and the Champion, and a sold out ticket of Sapporo Dome almost daily. After he left Japan, he became a manager of Kansas City Royals, Major League in U.S.A.

These are his reward for dedication and faithfulness to God. “I achieved my goal. I thank God.” God prepares a wonderful life for you. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Psalm 81:10

The day of Pentecost

All the churches were born on the day of Pentecost. In Old Testament, the word "church" wasn't mentioned, but a church is shown.

There are 7 dishes for oil on the tip of menorah’s 7 branches. Without pouring oil into these dishes and lighting it, it's useless as menorah.

In Mathew 3:11, John talked about the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire. When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan which means flowing from above to bottom, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove.

People celebrated the festival of firstfruits on the day of Pentecost but where were the Christians who already believed Jesus and what did they do? In the Bible, it says divided tongues of fire, appeared to them from above at that time.

Jesus is the head and a church is the body. First, oil is poured on the dishes of menorah and next we light it. They couldn’t control their tongue. (It means they couldn’t stop speaking.)

The fire from God is light-up and burns up sins (ref. Mathew 3:12) and the power from above (This is a word origin of dynamite) was given to them.

What kind of power do today’s Christians rely on? Churches at that time spread out to the world by the power from above. The only thing they needed was this power.

Acts 1:7~8

A name of our church

I am often asked the name of our church . Some people ask me, “Is it Church on the Rock church or On the Rock church?”

If you surf the internet for “Church on the Rock”, you will find many churches with the same name. Actually, this name is very popular not only in Europe or English speaking countries, but also in Asia.

In the Bible, there are some names of churches, such as Ecclesia or a body of Christ. I think these are true name of church. Each church has different names but there is only one church in this world in God’s eyes, so Church on the Rock is a part of Christ’s body which shares the gospel to non-believers, produces churches or group of people to the area, and builds and hands over responsibility to disciples.

The day of Pentecost is May 23rd this year. A small ministry started from 1996 will have 14th birthday on this day. May 23rd is also the birthday for churches of Christ in this world.

Mathew 16:18

Grace of nature

Why does steam come out of a road? In the east side of Hokkaido many families enjoy a hot spring at home so the steam comes out of a manhole. (Also, they use the source of hot-spring water and it has a strong appeal to hot spring lovers.) Every day they can take a bath with natural hot spring water at home more luxurious than hot spring hotels. Although I tell them, it’s wonderful, they don’t have any reactions.

We enjoy great view on an arterial road from Kushiro airport. Although I tell the people there, that it's wonderful, for them it’s just a usual view.

Grace is given to us although we don’t deserve it. When people are blessed all the time, they take it for granted. We are saved through faith because of Jesus. This is a wonderful grace but the day when we were saved is not a goal. The time when a victorious crown is given to us from the Lord is the goal. We thank the Lord’s grace and run a race which is our life. Christian’s life has full of wonderful experiences.

1 Corinthians 9:23~25

A thing we make and a person who are created

This photo is a construction of a place for worship. Church on the Rock in Nakanoshima used to be a tenant but we bought it and the next door and renovated it.

Christians in Japan call a place for worship “Synagogue”. This is used as the same meaning of Synagogue for Jew’s meeting place, so when Christians in Japan build a new building, they call a construction of Synagogue.

However, a church in the Bible is “Ecclesia” and it means “people who believe and are called to get together”. " Synagogue" means a “place” for a religious meeting and Ecclesia is “people” who are gathered in the name of Christ.

Building can be rebuilt but the Holy Spirit is the one who transform people. The growth of a church is totally different from the standard of this world. When God who is the creator and people who are the creation become one by faith and love, a church is built on the rock.

Jeremiah 18:6

Mother's day

We gave presents to mothers on Mother’s day this year.

One lady was sent to heaven in Virginia state of America on the second Sunday of May in 1905. This lady was teaching to children at a Sunday school. She told a verse in the Bible, “respect your parents”, and asked them how we can express our thankfulness to our mothers. Her daughter, Anna Jarvis, who remembered what her mother had told her, expressed her thankfulness and condolence with a white carnation. Mother’s day movement began from her action and then the president of America instituted mother’s day in 1914.

God the Father showed invisible love with visible Jesus, His son. How do you express your love and thankfulness?

Colossians 1:15

Enduring love

6 years old girl taught us warm-hearted love. Elena Desserich was diagnosed with a brain cancer when she was 5 years old. I believe 9 months to follow was unimaginable battle for this little girl. After her short life, what did her family see? They found memos written “I love you” in drawers, bags, and various places in their house.

This is an inspirational love story. God’s love is bigger than people’s love. God’s love doesn’t have any limits or conditions and is unchanged. This is called Agape love. This love is written in the first Corinthians.

How can we know God’s love? Jesus loved us so much that He died on the cross and gave His life for us. We didn’t ask Him to do it or pay a cost. The one who believes and receives this love is blessed no matter what happens because he realizes he was born in order to be loved.

Isaiah 54:10